LAKE WORTH -- Jerry and Sheila Campbell, sick of the prostitutes and crack cocaine dealers working in front of their house, decided to make their feelings public.

On Monday, they erected a large wooden sign on their front lawn in the 400 block of North H Street that reads: ``NO SCUMBAGS.``

Two hours later, vandals spray-painted profanities over it. Undaunted, the Campbells cleaned the sign, complete with an American flag attached, and left it in place.

But city code enforcement officials want them to take it down.

``Most of the people are behind us,`` Sheila Campbell, 27, said on Wednesday as she arrived home from her bookkeeping job. ``We just want to let the people know what`s going on.``

Police declined on Wednesday to comment on the sign or criminal activity in the neighborhood.

The placement of the sign in the area just north of Lake Avenue and one block west of Dixie Highway took the Campbells` neighbors off guard, although they echoed the couple`s complaints.

``I was very surprised, but I was glad,`` said Sandy Skutt, who lives across the street from Campbell.

``But as soon as he put it up, people defaced it,`` Skutt said.

The Campbells are not the only residents in the neighborhood who say they are tired of seeing hookers walk the street and crack dealers running away from patrol cars.

Another of Campbell`s neighbors, roofer Richard Barnett, has lived in the area for five years. Bennett, 26, says the street scene gets so loud at night that he cannot sleep.

``Have there been problems!`` Bennett said emphatically. ``There have been lots of problems. There have been gunshots in the neighborhood, drunks partying until 2 and 3 in the morning. The prostitutes and crack dealers walk by. It`s bad.``

``I think he should put neon lights on the sign,`` said one of Bennett`s friends.